~ The introduction to the Fated & Forbidden series, a paranormal world of shifters, vampires, magic, and more shared by 11 authors ~
Centuries ago, Allendra and Zaan, wielding the Source together, created supernatural beings they hoped would bring peace and harmony to the world. Instead, strife, feuds, and wars took their toll.
After lifetimes of watching her creations perpetuate misery and destruction, Allendra has had enough. She has been harnessing the power of the upcoming Blood Moon, and plans to strip every one of these beings of their supernatural powers.
Zaan, long estranged from her, returns to ask her to reconsider, but the Challenge she issues might be more than he bargained for…
(6.500 words) Please note - as an introduction, this story introduces the characters and sets up the challenge at the core of the series. It does not resolve anything.
Kallysten is a writer of romance novels and short stories, most of them with paranormal elements.
Her first eBooks were published by Linden Bay Romance in 2005. The defunct Venus Press subsequently published a few of her short stories. Because so many of her stories are linked as series and part of the same universe, she decided it would make sense to have them all in the same place, which is why she self-published, first with the co-op Alinar Publishing and now on her own. When she sees calls for submissions that speak to her muse, she sometimes tries for them, and was published this way by Samhain and Torquere.
I was asked to read book 6 in this series and right at the beginning it gives you a link for a free download for this little gem of a prequel.
The Challenge, lays out the groundwork for the entire Fated & Forbidden series, which is a multi-author series. This reminded me a little of the 1001 Dark Nights series but this one should be more structured, since there is a set plot. The start to the series has a goddess getting ready to strip supernatural creatures of their powers. Yet her past partner convinces her to give all supernatural another chance. They each will have a month or all supernatural will no longer exist.
It’s a super quick read and I recommend reading it before you read any of the rest of the series, its free and worth it....Sara
It's free, and a nice prologue to the rest of the stories. I read one of the stories before reading this, and this prologue wasn't needed to understand that book. I think it sets up the end book more than anything.
Contains no sex, a few swear words, and no violence.
The Challenge is the prelude to the multi author series Fated & Forbidden. The goddess Allendra one of the creator's of all the magical races is tired of all the evils her children have caused and on the next blood moon she plans to take away their magic and make then all human. Zaam the co creator of the magical races has come to confront his mate on her plan. He convinces her to give them a chance. Allendra relents and offers representatives of the races a challenge, they have 4 weeks to find their fated mated and bond with them, if any should fail by the blood moon all magical races will became human. Zaan didn't expect to be part of the challenge. The series Surrendering Saul by Holley Trent Serena's Salvation by Crystal Dawn Dark Burn by Decadent Kane Dragon's Cowboy by Cynthia Fox Fire Brand by Kristen Strassel Fallen Ashes by TF Walsh Lone Wolf by K de Long Blood Secret by Jacqueline Sweet Untamed Heart by Kim Faulks Blood Moon by Kallysten
This short interesting prequel sets the stage for Fated and Forbidden series, which is a multi -author series. Allendra a goddness who is a creator, has lost patience with her creations, Fae, shifters, etc., and has decided to strip them of their magic. But Zaan, their co-creator, persuades her to issue a challenge instead. Which is going to make for some interesting and entertaining read. I recommend that you read this prequel before starting the series. I already read the first book in the series and it's amazing. I voluntarily read and review this ARC I haven't been compensated in any way.
This short prequel sets the stage for Fated and Forbidden. Allendra, a creator, has lost patience with her creations, Fae, shifters, etc., and has decided to strip them of their magic. But Zaan, their co-creator, persuades her to issue a challenge instead. They will have a month, and their future hangs in the balance. This is a must read before getting into the standalone books in the what promises to be a great concurrent timeline multi author series. This is my honest and voluntary review of a complimentary copy.
Zaan and Allendra came together and shared many things before their relationship concluded. They event embued many earthlings with the powers to become one with the animal spirits around them. Unfortunately, they misused their gifts and angered their creators. This is an excellent short story and great introduction to a series.
A challenge is thrown down find your fated mate before the blood moon or all the races endowed with special attributes - shifters, fae, vampire, etc - will become human.
This short prequel sets you up with a full understanding for Fated and Forbidden series. Allendra one of the creators has lost patience with her subjects all Fae, shifters and such like so she has decided to turn them back to human. But Zaan her partner who helped create them wants her to give them another chance. So she decides that they will have a month to prove their worth and find their mates but their future is in the balance as there is a twist. This I think is a must read before getting into the standalone books in the what looks to be a great timeline multi author series. I received this for my honest unbiased review.
You really need to read this book before starting on the other books in the Fated & Forbidden series of stand alone PNRs.
The brand new multi-author Fated & Forbidden series starts off with a 5 star introduction in 'The Challenge', written by the wonderful Kallysten, and is the prologue to the series. It tells a story of it's own about how and why supernatural beings were created, and by whom, as well as introducing all the major players and why they are being forced to take part in 'the challenge'.
I can't really say a lot without giving spoilers but the brief outline is; the Goddess Allendra has become tired of all the conflict, trouble, strife and in-fighting between the paranormal races that were created by her and the God Zaan to protect humanity. Something they seem to have forgotten and she's decided it's time to remind them with a challenge and a tight deadline, and watch out for the sting in the tail. It's a short read but includes a lot of information between it's covers and you really need to read it before starting the series.
Apart from the series prologue (this book) and the concluding book 'Blood Moon', both by Kallysten, all the books in the series are stand alone paranormal romances set in the individual worlds created by the different authors, can easily be read in any order and although you won't find 'The Challenge' listed on vendor websites, or at least I didn't, you can download it free from the Fated & Forbidden website and there's a link to it in the first book 'Surrendering Saul', another fantastic 5 star read from Holley Trent's terrific Hearth Motel series. Fated & Forbidden website: http://fatedandforbidden.pnrseries.co...
You really need to read this book before starting on the other books in the Fated & Forbidden series of stand alone PNRs.
The brand new multi-author Fated & Forbidden series starts off with a 5 star introduction in 'The Challenge', written by the wonderful Kallysten, and is the prologue to the series. It tells a story of it's own about how and why supernatural beings were created, and by whom, as well as introducing all the major players and why they are being forced to take part in 'the challenge'.
I can't really say a lot without giving spoilers but the brief outline is; the Goddess Allendra has become tired of all the conflict, trouble, strife and in-fighting between the paranormal races that were created by her and the God Zaan to protect humanity. Something they seem to have forgotten and she's decided it's time to remind them with a challenge and a tight deadline, and watch out for the sting in the tail. It's a short read but includes a lot of information between it's covers and you really need to read it before starting the series.
Apart from the series prologue (this book) and the concluding book 'Blood Moon', both by Kallysten, all the books in the series are stand alone paranormal romances set in the individual worlds created by the different authors and can easily be read in any order.
This isn't a review for this book but for the whole series: (NOTE: I have not read the last book Blood Moon because it has note been released as of the time of this review)
Over all the series gets ***
Some of these stories are much better then the others (like this prequel) but overall there is no consistency from one story to the next. In one book the woman is the last dragon shifter in existence but in another there are hundreds of dragon shifters. In one story the Phoenix shifter turns to ash every time he shifts but in another the "firebird" shifts from one form to the next as easily as she would change a shirt. In one book the mermaids are the cast off halfbreed children of Sirens and in the next the Sirens are evolved children of Mermaids. And don't even get me started on the Wolves...I just flat out gave up on their crazy asses.
AND WHERE IS THE VAMPIRE's STORY. A vampire was mentioned in no less then 3 of the books dreamscapes but NOT ONE of the books has a vampire. Second only to Dragon Shifters, Vampires are my favorite supernatural and I am extremely disappointed his story never got told.
I realize that there are 9 authors telling 9 different stories but if you are trying to write a SERIES there should be some consistency between books! Get together and write a set of general rules. Did the Sirens make Mermaids or did Mermaids make Sirens? Are Dragons shifters extinct, filling the skies, or basically horses for the Fae? PICK ONE! I don't care which one it is...just pick one and stick with it!
So the Creator Allendra is sick of the crap those supernatural beings she and Zaan created cause and has decided to make them all human again. Zaan asks her to reconsider and she ends up issuing a challenge. It may just be more than than he ever thought about. This is short and I don't want to spoil anything, but the challenge sounds so interesting and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. There may have even been a slight effect Allendra herself wasn't expecting. Can't wait to read the books in this series!